Yeoh Li Tian: Malaysia’s First Chess Grandmaster
Yeoh Li Tian, a 25-year-old from Selangor, has made history by becoming Malaysia’s first chess Grandmaster. Yeoh began his journey in chess at the age of three, initially learning Xingchi (Chinese chess) before transitioning to international chess. The Grandmaster title, awarded by the International Chess Federation (FIDE), is the highest honor in the chess world and is held by fewer than 2,000 players globally.
Yeoh’s achievement was unofficially confirmed at the 2025 GM-IM Invitational Chess Championship, held in Kuala Lumpur from July 28th to August 3rd when he met all the requirements for that final elusive GM norm. During this tournament, Yeoh surpassed the crucial FIDE rating of 2,500 points. His decisive victory against Indonesia’s IM Nayaka Budhidharma sealed his Grandmaster status.
Yeoh’s path to this milestone was marked by dedication and sacrifice. He has openly shared that his childhood was devoted to school, homework, and rigorous chess training. Notably, Yeoh got his first GM norm at the Zonals in 2017 and his second norm in 2019 at the Rilton Cup, Sweden. That result also made him surpass a 2,500 ELO rating at the age of 19. Then came Covid, which severely hampered his GM hopes as over-the-board tournaments were scarce for at least two more years.
He narrowly missed finalizing the title during the 2022 Southeast Asian Games. Academic pursuits and work commitments delayed his progress, but six years later, he finally achieved that elusive norm.
Reflecting on his accomplishment, Yeoh expressed a deep sense of relief and joy, especially as he secured his final norm on home soil. He hopes his achievement will inspire more Malaysians to take up chess, particularly after narrowly missing the title at the 2022 SEA Games in Hanoi.
The significance of Yeoh’s success extends beyond personal achievement. Akhramsyah Muammar Ubaidah Sanusi, President of the Malaysian Chess Federation, has stated that this milestone could spark a new wave of Grandmasters in Malaysia, similar to trends seen in Indonesia, Vietnam, and the Philippines. Since Yeoh’s victory, the Federation has reported a 300% increase in junior membership inquiries, reflecting a surge of interest in the sport. Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh also highlighted that this accomplishment demonstrates Malaysia’s potential to excel in cerebral sports on the global stage.
Looking ahead, Yeoh has not yet confirmed his next steps but has hinted at a possible participation in the upcoming SEA Games in Thailand, with the Malaysian Chess Federation already expressing interest in his involvement.
Yeoh Li Tian’s achievement is widely regarded as a catalyst for the future development of chess in Malaysia, marking a pivotal moment for the sport in the country.